m thence to Sir G. Downing and
staid late there (he having sent for me to come to him), which was to
tell me how my Lord Sandwich had disappointed him of a ship to bring
over his child and goods, and made great complaint thereof; but I got
him to write a letter to Lawson, which it may be may do the business for
him, I writing another also about it. While he was writing, and his Lady
and I had a great deal of discourse in praise of Holland. By water to
the Bridge, and so to Major Hart's lodgings in Cannon-street, who used
me very kindly with wine and good discourse, particularly upon the ill
method which Colonel Birch and the Committee use in defending of the
army and the navy; promising the Parliament to save them a great deal
of money, when we judge that it will cost the King more than if they had
nothing to do with it, by reason of their delays and scrupulous enquirys
into the account of both. So home and to bed.

21st (Office day). There all the morning and afternoon till 4 o'clock.
Hence to Whitehall, thinking to have put up my books at my Lord's, but
am disappointed from want of a chest which I had at Mr. Bowyer's. Back
by water about 8 o'clock, and upon the water saw the corpse of the Duke
of Gloucester brought down Somerset House stairs, to go by water to
Westminster, to be buried to-night. I landed at the old Swan and went to
the Hoop Tavern, and (by a former agreement) sent for Mr. Chaplin, who
with Nicholas Osborne and one Daniel came to us and we drank off two
or three quarts of wine, which was very good; the drawing of our wine
causing a great quarrel in the house between the two drawers which
should draw us the best, which caused a great deal of noise and falling
out till the master parted them, and came up to us and did give us a
large account of the liberty that he gives his servants, all alike, to
draw what wine they will to please his customers; and we did eat above
200 walnuts. About to o'clock we broke up and so home, and in my way I
called in with them at Mr. Chaplin's, where Nicholas Osborne did give me
a barrel of samphire,

[Samphire was formerly a favourite pickle; hence the "dangerous
trade" of the samphire gatherer ("King Lear," act iv. sc. 6) who
supplied the demand. It was sold in the streets, and one of the old
London cries was "I ha' Rock Samphier, Rock Samphier!"]

and showed me the keys of Mardyke Fort,

[A fort four miles east of Dunkirk, probably dismantled